AGRICULTURE and Food Minister Terry Redman has welcomed the decision by Main Roads WA to extend the allowance for greater road train movement to assist pastoralists in drought-affected areas.
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The special assistance extension applies for the movement of livestock, hay and animal feed in drought-affected areas of the Pilbara, Murchison and Gascoyne until the beginning of December this year.
Mr Redman said the extension would provide much needed relief for pastoralists.
"The concession permits the use of road trains that are much longer than the configurations normally accepted on roads south of Geraldton. The longer road trains enable stock and fodder to be transported more quickly and efficiently," Mr Redman said.
"Main Roads granted the initial concession in March to allow the urgent transfer of livestock to the south and the supply of stock fodder to the north in response to the unseasonal dry conditions.
"The Dry Season Advisory Committee has recommended the special permits be extended as big numbers of stock still need to be moved."
Favourable rainfall for the Pilbara is not expected until mid to late February, and not until mid to late May in the Gascoyne.
The concessional approval applies when transporting livestock out of, or hay and animal feed into, a pastoral property located within the shires of Ashburton, East Pilbara, Leonora, Mount Magnet, Roebourne, Upper Gascoyne, Carnarvon, Exmouth, Meekatharra, Murchison, Sandstone, Wiluna, Cue, Laverton, Menzies, Port Hedland, Shark Bay and Yalgoo.
No operation is permitted on public holidays.
Concessional notes must be carried by the transporter and produced upon the request of a Main Roads transport inspector or other authorised person.
